Shelf supports



R. GRAY ET AL Aug. 4, 1976 SHELF SUPPORTS 2. Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 20, 19,68

/NVE/VTORS RO'RT GRAY Raaf/P7 I HALsrR/c/r ATTRNE'Y R. GRAY ET Al- Aug. 4, i976 SHELF SUPPORTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed sepi. 2o, 196e /lVl/E/VTOR5- ROBERT GRAY ROBERT T HALSTR/CK AT TOR/VE Y United States Patent O1 ice 3,522,920 Patented Aug. 4, 1970 3,522,920 SHELF` SUPPORTS Robert Gray, Narberth, and Robert T. Halstrick, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., assignors to American Metal Works, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Sept. 20, 1968, Ser. No. 761,106 Int. Cl. A47g 29/02 U.S. Cl. 248-243 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to shelving and supports therefor and more particularly to shelf supports for metal shelves of the knockdown type.

Description of the prior art It has heretofore been proposed to provide shelving in which the shelves were carried on vertical posts of right angle and T cross section with openings usually on one inch centers for adjustment of the height and spacing of the shelves.

Various attaching devices for the shelves have been proposed, bolts being common. Attaching devices are shown in the Bales Pat. No. 2,604,213, which require clips and insertable studs to hold the shelf. The necessity for using insertable studs, in addition to clips is a disadvantage not only because of the necessity for stocking a number of different parts but because the manual manipulation required to mount or remount the shelf for adjustment to the desired height is slow and cumbersome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention a simple clip construction is provided, made in right and left hand configuration which engages the upright or post by being hooked thereunto at the desired height, supports the shelf around the corner by a wedging tongue, the right and left hand clips being independently movable for shelf height adjustment. The clips permit of mounting contiguous shelves at the same height or of independent shelf adjustment. The coaction between the shelf and the clip is such that no welding of the shelf corners is required.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved shelf support comprising clips, which may be quickly and easily applied to a post at the desired level and to which the shelf corner is applied merely by being moved downwardly thereon.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved shelf support which permits of independent shelf adjustment.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved shelf support comprising clips which hook onto the posts or uprights and onto which the shelves are mounted and held against displacement by the downward movement of the shelf.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved shelf support employing clips engageable with uprights or posts, one for each corner, in which the clips can be made as metal stampings and which do not require any additional parts for securement of or support of the shelves on the uprights or posts.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THFl DRAWINGS The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily `understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of shelf supports in accordance with the invention, part of the post being broken away to show the engagement of one of the clips in one of the post openings;v

lFIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 2 -2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;`

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the relation of the clips to the po'st;

FIG. 5 is a view` in perspective showing the opposite side of the clip at the left of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective showing the opposite side of the clip at the right of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a corner of one of the shelves asseen from below.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

.Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. e

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a conventional vertical upright or post 10 is shown having a flange or rib 11 and ange or cross T portion 12 with equally vertically spaced openings 13 in the ribs 11. For front posts 10, the flanges or ribs 11 extend rearwardly -while for rear posts 10 the flanges or ribs will extend forwardly. The posts 10, if supplied only with partial anges 12 could take the form of angles. For purposes of explanation the posts 10 will be referred to as rear posts.

A shelf 15 is provided, of sheet metal or the like having a at supporting portion 16 with perpendicularly downwardly extending side edge walls 17. The walls 17 specili- `cally have anges 18 perpendicular thereto, and one or more of the anges 18 may have a stilfening rib 19 therealong.

. The anges 18 are preferably cut Iaway adjacent the as explained below.

One of the clips shown at 25 (and see FIGS. 4 and 5) for -attachment at the right side of the post 10` as seen in FIGS. l, 2 and 3, for supporting and holding the shelf y15 and preferably made as a sheet metal stamping includes a vertical body portion 26 with an upper hook 27 struck out therefrom with a horizontal portion 28 and a vertical portion 29, and a lower hook 30 with a horizontal portion 31 and a vertical portion 32. The horizontal portions 28 and 31 of the hooks 27 and 30 are spaced apart twice the distance between openings 13.

Between the hooks 27 and 30 a central opening 33 is provided from the upper margin of which a stop lug 34 extends in the opposite direction from that of the hooks 27 and 30.

The body portion 26 has extending perpendicularly from one side margin thereof a vertical wall 36 to which a vertical wall 37 is connected. The wall 37 is preferably parallel to the body portion 26. The wall 36 is so connected to the body portion 26, and the' walls 36 and 37 are terminated to provide an upper terminal surface portion 38 which is preferably at the same level as the upper ace of the stop lug 34.

The wall 36 is adapted to engage the cross portion l2.

The vertical wall 37 has extending upwardly therefrom a guiding and clamping finger 40 which is inclined outwardly with respect thereto and to thel body portion 26 to guide the shelf 15 to gripping position. The rear edge 41 of the finger 40 is also inclined with respect to the wall 36 to guide the shelf 15 to gripped position.

Another of the clips 25a (see FIGS. 4 and 6) for attachment at the left side of the post as seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, for supporting and holding the shelf 15 is similar to the clip 25 but of opposite hand.

The clip 25a has a body 26a, upper hook 27a with portions 28a, and 29a, lower hook 30a with portions 31a and 32a and a central opening 33a. A stop lug 34a is provided extending from the upper margin of the central opening 33a. Walls 36a and 37a are provided with a surface 38a at the level of the upper face of the lug 34a. The wall 36a is adapted to engage the cross portion 12.

With the hooks 27 and 30 of clip 25 engaged in openings 13 there will be an unoccupied opening therebetween for reception of the lower hook 30a of clip 25a.

The level of the lug 34a and the surface 38a is preferably the same, when the hooks 26 and 30 are engaged in openings `13 at the level of the lug 34 and surface 38 so that two shelves can be supported at the same level on opposite sides of the rib 11 of the post 10.

In use the clips and 25a are assembled on the post 10 with their hooks 27 and 30 and 27a and 30a engaged in openings 13 at locations where shelves 15 are to be supported.

Each shelf 15 is lowered from above toward the clips 25 and 25a. As this occurs the marginal edges 21 tend to engage the inclined clamping fingers 40 and 40a and the inclined guiding edges 40 and 41 thereof and are guided thereby and wedged in their downward movement. The stop lugs 34 and 34a and surfaces 38 and 38a limit the downward movement by the engagement of the flanges 18 therewith.

In applying the clips 25 and 25a to the post 10 the central openings 33a and 33 of the opposite clips provide clearances and permit access for engagement of the hooks from the opposite clip.

It will be noted that the shelves 15 are not restricted to mounting of contiguous shelves at the same level but that shelves -15 may be inserted, removed and changed as to level independently of contiguous shelves.

From the foregoing it will be seen that apparatus has een provided for attaining the objects of the invention.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for supporting a shelf comprising a vertical post having a flange portion 'with a row of vertically spaced openings connecting opposite vertical faces of said ange portion, and accessible from either side,

4 a clip having a vertical plate portion with vertically spaced hooks extending from one face thereof, said hooks being spaced to simultaneously engage in openings in said flange with an unengaged opening therebetween, and said plate portion having a shelf engaging lug extending horizontally from the opposite face thereof, said plate portion having a wall portion connected thereto with an additional horizontal shelf engaging surface spaced from said lug and disposed in the same horizontal plane therewith. 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said clip is a unitary sheet metal clip. 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said plate portion has a clearance opening therein. 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said wall portion has an upwardly extending finger with a shelf edge positioning part thereon. 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which said finger has an additional upwardly extending shelf edge positioning part. 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 having, in addition, a shelf, and said shelf has a flanged portion with marginal edges engaging said edge positioning part. 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 having, in addition, a shelf, and said shelf has a flanged portion with marginal edges engaging said edge positioning part. 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 having Ian additional clip as defined in claim 1 engaging an opposite vertical post face for the support of an additional shelf, the hooks of said additional clip engaging others of said openings than said first clip. 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which one of the hooks of said additional clip is engaged in the aforesaid unengaged opening. 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which said shelf engaging surfaces of both clips are in the same plane.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,336,971 4/1920 Levene 248-243 3,081,717 3/1963 Yurevich 108-107 3,306,466 2/ 1967 Liston 211-148 FOREIGN PATENTS 815,686 7/1959 Great Britain. 1,140,422 3/ 1957 France. 1,339,305 4/ 1963 France.

629,25() 12/ 1961 Italy.

MARION PARSONS, IR., Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 10S-107; 21k-148 

